Summer Splash | POP MUSIC

Critic's Picks

If you don't get caught up in the flood of veteran acts this summer, you can count on some tasty and invigorating evenings, the most promising of which feature a wave of excellent new female artists.

The Geraldine Fibbers, an outstanding Los Angeles rock band led by singer Carla Bozulich, kicks off the must list on June 7 at the El Rey Theatre. In their best moments, the Fibbers look at life on the edge with an insight and bite reminiscent of the best of X. Ani DiFranco, the fiercely independent punk-folk songwriter, will be focusing on songs from her new album, "Dilate" (a reflection on a tortured romantic relationship), in a series of stops beginning May 30 at the Galaxy Theatre. Grammy-winning Alanis Morissette will be doing four shows at the Greek Theatre starting June 15 and one at Irvine Meadows on June 20. Beyond the angry, confrontational stance of her single "You Oughta Know," Morissette is a young artist with intelligence and range.

Gillian Welch, who appears June 29 at McCabe's, is an extraordinary newcomer whose debut album, "Revival," reflects the pure, country-flavored vision of the early Emmylou Harris.

And don't forget: the Mavericks with Junior Brown on May 31 at the Greek, Alison Krauss on June 20 at the Wiltern Theatre and the Metallica-Soundgarden showdown at Lollapalooza in early August at a site to be announced.